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The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev Robert Atwell says the measure of an outstanding school is not just its SATS or Ofsted results but how everyone – children, teachers, and other staff including the cleaners and caretakers – are valued.
The Diocese of Exeter educates 22,000 children in schools and academies across Devon.

The Bishop of Exeter, Rt Rev Robert Atwell Credit: ITV West Country

"What marks out a good school is not simply excellent SATs, but how it treats a sick cleaner or honours a playground supervisor when he or she retires after years of faithful service."

– Rt Rev Robert Atwell, Bishop of Exeter

He's called on people in churches to work more closely with schools helping to lead groups and clubs in schools during the week, rather than wait for children to turn up for Sunday services.

The NUT maintains that the free school policy has diverted funds into a small number of schools and prevented Local Authorities opening schools where most needed. Free Schools do not raise standards. What does is teaching.

Supporting teachers in developing their classroom practice through high quality CPD and more time to teach, rather than meet arbitrary Government targets, should be the aim of any Government, not introducing market forces into education.

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The Digital Primary Academy in Exeter - will be opened by the same trust that runs the Broadclyst Primary Academy. It is the only UK primary school recognised as a Microsoft Mentor School and part of the Microsoft Global Challenge.

Kingsteignton School in Devon - will be run by the federation that runs nearby St Michael’s Church of England Primary School.

Stoke Damerel Healthcare Professional Studio School in Plymouth - will specialise in healthcare, and is sponsored by Stoke Damerel Community College, with partners including Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry and Plymouth University.

The Great Western Academy in Swindon - will have a business and enterprise curriculum model.

The Swindon Church of England Secondary School - the city's first Church of England school, being provided by the Diocese of Bristol.

Bristol Autism Free School - Bristol’s first all-through provision for students with autistic spectrum conditions. It will replace and expand on a small autism unit at the successful Merchants Academy.

The Government has today said six new free schools will open in the South West - part of 49 being announced nationwide.

All three are planned for Devon, with one in Plymouth, one in Exeter and one in Newton Abbot.

Six new free schools have been announced for Swindon Credit: PA

Today's announcement, the final wave of free schools to be approved before the election, brings the total number of open and approved free schools to more than 400. It has created around 230,000 new school places.

The Government claims 72 per cent of free school heads say they are having a positive impact on schools in their local area – driving up standards and ensuring more parents have a great school in their neighbourhood.

Over 40,000 pupils are already attending free schools, with more than two-thirds rated good or outstanding. 72 per cent are located in areas with a shortage of places.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan Credit: PA

Today’s announcement sends a clear sign that children for generations to come will be able to benefit from a place in a free school. With already more than two-thirds being rated good or outstanding, today’s news will reassure parents that standards will continue to rise.

A number of schools in our region will be refurbished. Credit: ITV News West Country

Twelve schools in the region are to benefit from a multi-billion-pound redevelopment programme announced by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Nick Clegg was at Helston College this morning to announce the project, which will see five schools in Devon, three in Cornwall and Somerset and one in Dorset repaired or rebuilt. We have the full list below.

The number of pupils in Cornwall getting good exam results is falling Credit: PA

The number of pupils in Cornwall getting at least five good GCSE grades fell by almost 3% in the last school year. Just over 55% of pupils met that target, but it's still above the national average of 53.4%.

The University of Plymouth has been revealed as the greenest in the UK Credit: ITV News

Plymouth University has been ranked the most sustainable in the country. It's the second time the university has topped the People and Planet Green League in five years.

Plymouth University understands the unique role a university plays in creating social justice, tackling climate change and equipping graduates with the understanding and skills we need to build the fairer low carbon future we all want.

– Hannah Smith, People & Planet

Plymouth has been on a journey to explore what sustainability means to us as a university, and it’s one that we’ve now placed at the very core of the way we do things.

It is threaded through the way we run our campus and manage our relationship with suppliers; through our teaching and curriculum; and it drives much of our research as we look to tackle some of the most urgent scientific and socio-economic issues of the day. It means a great deal, therefore to return to the top of the People and Planet University League.

– Prof David Coslett, Interim Chief Exec, Plymouth University

Sustainability is not just about switching off the lights and computers - Plymouth University has even started to commission independent monitoring of the factories that make the products that students use every day on campus as well as committing to purchase staff uniforms made from Fairtrade cotton.